The document discusses the lack of preparedness among Tacoma Community College students and faculty for the technological demands of modern education and the workplace. It emphasizes the importance of teaching students to create networks and connections as a core skill instead of focusing solely on specific content knowledge. The document advocates for student-led learning and the integration of technology into the curriculum to enhance educational outcomes.

1. Geoff Cain & Charlene Gore Tacoma Community College

2. Students unprepared for the technological challenges of school and the workplace Faculty unprepared for teaching in a connected world Full online program with little community; students not connected to campus or one another Faculty teaching technology while trying to teach content

3. Create an academic and professional network Teach students how to use the technology early in the program Teach the students how to create networks Networks becoming increasingly complex.

4. No one person will know everything We can’t teach students for the jobs they will have in five years The new skill is to create a smart network Graphic from The Opte Project

5. Learning and knowledge rests in a diversity of opinions Learning is a process of making connections The capacity to know is more important than what is currently known The ability to see connections is a core skill Decision making itself is a learning process Detail from Matt Thorton’s Indra’s Web <http://www.straightblastgym.com/blog/web-indrasnet.jpg>

6. Students report a greater comfort with technology Faculty spend less time teaching technology Students using the tools in other classes Students creating extensive networks Graphic by Gail Atkins <http://www.angelfire.com/realm/bodhisattva/indras-net.html>

7. More student-led learning (Starfish and the Spider) Roll course out to campus Larger classes

8. Brafman, Ori and Beckstrom, Rod A. (2007) The Starfish and the Spider. <http://www.starfishandspider.com> Cain, Geoff. (2008). Brainstorm in Progress . <http://cain.blogspot.com> Includes link to syllabus and the resources below. Cormier, Dave. (2008). “Rhizomatic Education: Community as Curriculum” <http://www.innovateonline.info/index.php?view=article&id=550> Dron, J. & Anderson, T. (2007). Collectives, Networks and Groups in Social Software for E-Learning. In G. Richards (Ed.), Proceedings of World Conference on E-Learning in Corporate, Government, Healthcare, and Higher Education 2007 (pp. 2460-2467). Chesapeake, VA: AACE. Siemens, George. (2004) “Connectivism: A Learning Theory for the Digital Age” <http://www.elearnspace.org/Articles/connectivism.htm>